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Nominations for F&I Pacesetters and Dealer of the Year Open Today

The publishers of F&I and Showroom are now accepting nominations for a program designed to honor dealers and dealer groups that excel in F&I while giving back to their communities.

September 16, 2019
Nominations for F&I Pacesetters and Dealer of the Year Open Today

Georgia’s Prince Automotive is the reigning F&I Dealer of the Year winner. The six-rooftop, family-owned group and its F&I team, led by Brad Richardson (third from left), were profiled in the January issue of F&I and Showroom.

Photo by Sidney Cromer

2 min to read


NEW ORLEANS — Organizers announced that this year’s Industry Summit will once again host a special ceremony that will honor a select group of F&I Pacesetters and name the 2019 F&I Dealer of the Year. The annual awards program is presented by F&I and Showroom and sponsored by American Financial & Automotive Services.

“We are honored to once again sponsor the 2019 F&I Pacesetter and F&I Dealer of the Year award. This award signifies the dealership’s dedication to excellence in the F&I department through training and compliance. This commitment leads to a professional culture that promotes exceptional customer service in F&I and other departments of the dealership,” said Arden Hetland, President of American Financial & Automotive Services, Inc.

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Industry Summit will be held Nov. 4–6, 2019, at the New Orleans Marriott. The Dealer of the Year finalists and winner will be recognized as part of the Industry Summit Honors, which will close the show on the afternoon of Wednesday, Nov. 6.

“This is the 18th year for the F&I Dealer of the Year program, and we could not be more proud to have recognized so many upstanding and hardworking dealers and F&I departments,” said David Gesualdo, publisher of Bobit Business Media’s Dealer Group. “We look forward to reviewing the nominations and honoring the winners in New Orleans.”

Up to six F&I Pacesetters are selected each year and invited to attend Industry Summit. Each will be recognized individually during the awards ceremony before the F&I Dealer of the Year winner is announced and asked to address the audience.

Dealers and F&I professionals may nominate their own dealerships or groups or be nominated by a third party.

To submit your nomination, click here.

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More details about Industry Summit 2019 are available at the event’s website. To discuss sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, contact David Gesualdo via email or at 727-947-4027.

Attendees who register by Oct. 4 will receive the $100 discounted rate. The first 100 active auto dealers and dealership general managers who register for this year’s event online with promo code F&I100 will receive their full show pass for no charge.

Read: Lt. Gen. Honoré to Help Attendees Prepare Today and Prevail Tomorrow at Industry Summit

Topics:F&I

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